nounDate: 1912
excessive compensation; specifically excessive reaction to a feeling of inferiority, guilt, or inadequacy leading to an exaggerated attempt to overcome the feeling
• overcompensateverb
• overcompensatoryadjective

Look at other dictionaries:

overcompensation — (n.) 1917 in the psychological sense, translating Ger. überkompensation, from OVER (Cf. over) + COMPENSATION (Cf. compensation). A term used by A. Alder to denote exaggerated striving for power in someone who has an inner sense of inferiority … Etymology dictionary

overcompensation — n. (in psychology) the situation in which a person tries to overcome a disability by making greater efforts than are required. This may result in the person becoming extremely efficient in what he (or she) is trying to achieve; alternatively,… … The new mediacal dictionary

overcompensation — noun a) An excess amount provided in one area in an effort to overcome a perceived lack in another area. b) Excessive pay or reward provided for work performed. See Also: overcompensate, overcompensatory … Wiktionary